Tag: jalen carter

Three Georgia Bulldogs go in first round of 2023 NFL mock draft

What Georgia players will be selected in the first round of the 2023 NFL draft?

The Georgia Bulldogs had a school record five players selected in the first round of the 2022 NFL draft. Could a similar number of Georgia players be selected in the first round of the 2023 NFL draft?

Draftwire projects, in a recent mock draft, that three Georgia Bulldogs will be selected in the first round of the 2023 NFL draft. They expect Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter to go with the No. 3 pick of the draft. Carter was arguably Georgia’s top interior pass rusher last season.

Jalen Carter is currently considered the top-ranked defensive tackle in the upcoming NFL draft class. Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

Next, Draftwire projects national championship game hero Kelee Ringo to be selected with the No. 15 pick of the 2023 NFL draft. Ringo came to Georgia as a five-star recruit. He has immense physical talent and will be counted on as Georgia’s top cornerback throughout the 2022 college football season.

Ringo’s size-speed combination is something NFL draft scouts will love. The former Saguaro High School star additionally is not afraid to provide run support.

Lastly, Draftwire expects Nolan Smith to be picked with the No. 23 selection. Smith gave the Bulldog defense a big boost with his return for a senior season. Could he elevate his NFL draft stock like Jordan Davis and Devonte Wyatt did in their senior seasons?

Smith is a strong run defender, which will along him to compete for snaps right away at the next level.

Among the other Georgia Bulldogs with the potential to be high picks in the 2023 NFL draft are tight end Arik Gilbert and offensive tackle Broderick Jones. This offensive duo is very talented, but needs to gain some experience before NFL teams will consider selecting either player in the first round. Their development will be critical for Georgia football in 2022.

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Doug Farrar’s 2023 “Are you kidding me?” way-too-early NFL mock draft

Touchdown Wire’s Doug Farrar has put together a 2023 NFL mock draft — just after the 2022 draft. Don’t worry, there’s a point to this exercise!

There are those who will tell you that doing mock drafts for 2023 right after the 2022 draft comes down is the ultimate example of wool-gathering/navel-gazing/clickbaiting, and just generally a useless exercise. After all, there’s so much we don’t yet know about how the boards will stack based on the 2022 NCAA season. Had the quarterbacks in the 2022 draft been available on their 2020 tape alone, Sam Howell (fifth round to the Washington Commanders) probably would have gone first, and Kenny Pickett (20th overall to the Steelers) — who had never thrown more than 13 touchdown passes in a season before 2021 — might not have been drafted at all. We also don’t know who will be this year’s Pickett, Zach Wilson, or Joe Burrow — the guy who comes out of nowhere to become a legitimate first-round talent.

You just never know how things are going to pop.

That said, working ahead to the next draft is an interesting and instructive if you take it from the point of view of what NFL teams did in 2022, and where things might need to be bolstered next year. The Giants and Eagles, for example, have created excuse-proof situations for Daniel Jones and Jalen Hurts, and we aren’t sure how that’s going to go.

(Spoiler: In this 2023 mock, both teams select quarterbacks in the first round. So, there you go).

There are other teams who are in the middle of full-on rebuilds, and looking ahead to 2023 brings about ideas of how those teams can fill in the remaining blanks.

So, with all that out of the way, here’s my 2023 mock draft. Positions are based on Pro Football Focus’ projections for the 2022 NFL season, and I used their awesome Mock Draft Simulator to keep everything straight.

Where are Georgia Bulldogs ranked for the 2023 NFL draft?

Georgia is having a historic 2022 NFL draft. UGA also has a lot of talent eligible for the 2023 draft.

The University of Georgia is in the midst a historic, record-breaking 2022 NFL draft, that saw the Bulldogs break a program-record for players taken.

Kirby Smart and the Georgia Bulldogs don’t rebuild though; the Dawgs reload. Georgia has an immense amount of NFL talent on its roster.

Georgia should have a lot of players selected early in the 2023 NFL draft. The 2023 NFL draft class features some impressive quarterbacks like Alabama’s Bryce Young and Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud. Additionally, Alabama outside linebacker Will Anderson Jr. is expected to be in contention for the No. 1 overall pick.

Player rankings rise and fall throughout the college football season and new stars emerge, but oftentimes a way-too-early NFL draft prediction is not terribly inaccurate.

Where are Georgia Bulldogs ranked for the 2023 NFL draft? There are seven UGA players ranked in the top 100.

CBS Sports on Georgia football’s biggest question mark this offseason

What’s Georgia’s biggest concern for 2022?

Last season, Georgia had what may be considered the best defense in the history of college football. And it all started up front with a stacked defensive line that featured plenty of NFL talent.

Led by Jordan Davis, Travon Walker, Devonte Wyatt and Jalen Carter, Georgia’s big men were the catalyst for a defense that gave up an average of 10.2 points per game last season.

But looking ahead to 2022, only one of those players mentioned, Carter, returns this fall.

Barrett Sallee of CBS Sports recently posed what he thought was the biggest question for every SEC football team as we approach the midway point of spring practice.

For Georgia, Sallee’s question centered around that defensive line:

How deep can the defensive line be this season?

The Bulldogs defense was historically dominant last season, but multiple key players from the national champs are gone — particularly along the defensive line. Jalen Carter, a 6-foot-3, 310-pound monster, should be the talk of the town after showing flashes of stardom last season alongside departed monster Jordan Davis. Carter has the skillset to be a top-tier NFL draft pick in 2023 and needs to step up in the middle of the defensive line. Devonte Wyatt, a 315-pound monster as well, is also off to the NFL after seven tackles for loss a year ago, which will put even more pressure on coach Kirby Smart to build the depth that championship-caliber teams need to win at an elite level.

Co-defensive coordinators Will Muschamp and Glenn Schumann have replaced Dan Lanning, who took the head coaching gig at Oregon in the offseason. Their first order of business will be developing talent up front.

Just to show you how good Georgia’s line was last year, the Bulldogs may have three of its linemen selected in the first round of this year’s draft.

Walker is seen as a potential No. 1 overall draft choice, but that may just be more hype than reality right now. Davis should certainly be a first rounder and so should Wyatt.

ESPN’s 2022 All-America team includes three UGA players

Three Dawgs make ESPN’s early 2022 All-America team

Chris Low of ESPN has released his way-too-early All-America team for the 2022 college football season.

Three Georgia Bulldogs, tight end Brock Bowers, defensive tackle Jalen Carter and cornerback Kelee Ringo, made the squad.

Jan 10, 2022; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Georgia Bulldogs tight end Brock Bowers (19) runs for a touchdown during the second half against the Alabama Crimson Tide in the 2022 CFP college football national championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

Bowers will be a sophomore during the 2022 season. As a freshman, Bowers recorded 56 catches for 882 yards and had 14 total touchdowns (13 receiving, 1 rushing). His 13 receiving touchdowns is a single season record by any pass catcher in UGA history.

Via Low:

When you’re just a freshman and Nick Saban calls you one of the premier players in college football, that’s pretty heady stuff. Bowers more than lived up to that billing last season, as he led all FBS tight ends with 13 touchdown catches and led Georgia in receptions (56) and receiving yards (882). He’s an impossible matchup for opposing defenses and is always finding ways to get open and make big plays.

Jan. 10, 2022; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Georgia Bulldogs defensive lineman Jalen Carter blocks a field goal attempt by Alabama Crimson Tide place kicker Will Reichard (16) in the third quarter during the 2022 CFP college football national championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium. Marc Lebryk-USA TODAY Sports

Carter also had a sensational season in 2021 as a sophomore defensive tackle and should receive plenty of national attention with the departures of Jordan Davis and Devonte Wyatt next season. Playing in all 15 games, Carter had 37 tackles and 27 quarterback pressures en route to being named second-team all-SEC.

Via Low:

Much of the limelight for Georgia’s defensive front last season centered on 360-pound nose tackle Jordan Davis, but several opposing offensive coordinators said the 6-3, 310-pound Carter was the most complete player of the two. He only started in two games, but finished second on the team with 33 quarterback pressures and also had 8.5 tackles for loss. He had a key blocked field goal in the national championship game.

Jan 10, 2022; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Georgia Bulldogs defensive back Kelee Ringo (5) runs for a touchdown after an interception d4h against the Alabama Crimson Tide in the 2022 CFP college football national championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

Redshirt freshman cornerback Kelee Ringo became a household name on January 10 when he picked off Alabama quarterback Bryce Young and returned it for a touchdown, delivering Georgia its first national title since 1980. Ringo was a former five-star out of Scottsdale, Arizona and was named to the Coaches’ Freshman All-SEC Team this past season. He played in all 15 games, starting in the last 12, and finished with 34 total stops, eight pass breakups (second-best on team), and 2 interceptions.

Low on Ringo:

The last time we saw Ringo on a football field, he was racing 79 yards for a touchdown on a pick-six to cap Georgia’s 33-18 win over Alabama in the national championship game. The 6-2, 205-pound Ringo is an excellent tackler and has the size and skills to smother receivers. He started his final 12 games as a redshirt freshman and is poised to be one of college football’s best all-round cornerbacks in 2022.

Two Georgia players make ESPN’s list of top underclassmen

ESPN listed college football’s best underclassmen this season and mentioned two Georgia players.

ESPN put together a list of the 12 best performing underclassmen this season and two Georgia Bulldogs were mentioned.

Defensive tackle Jalen Carter, who many call a “mini Jordan Davis,” was mentioned and so was tight end Brock Bowers.

Carter, a sophomore from Apopka, Florida, has been phenomenal this season, with 22 tackles and three sacks. For comparison purposes, Davis has 21 tackles and two sacks this season.

He’s even gotten the job done blocking in the jumbo package this year.

From ESPN:

The Bulldog defense is littered with players whose names will be called during the 2022 NFL draft, including Jordan Davis, Devonte Wyatt and Nakobe Dean. But sophomore interior defensive lineman Jalen Carter might be the best of all of them. Carter’s 86.8 overall defensive grade ranks among the top 50 defenders in the FBS this season, and his 89.2 pass rush grade is top 10 in the country among interior defensive lineman. This 6-foot-3, 310-pound game wrecker will have his eyes on a top-10 selection in the 2023 NFL draft.

As for Bowers, the true freshman from Napa, California has become a household name among Georgia fans and is quickly gaining popularity throughout the nation. He’s Georgia’s leading receiver with 493 yards and six touchdowns on 28 receptions and he even added a 12 yard rushing score this year as well.

From ESPN:

True freshman tight end Brock Bowers simply takes over drives for the Georgia offense. Bowers’ 90.6 receiving grade is top 10 at the position, and he ranks in the top five in yards after the catch. He already has two 100-yard games and three multi-touchdown games. Factor in that this 6-4, 230-pound freshman is doing this in his first season within a relatively inconsistent passing attack, it’s exciting to imagine what is on the horizon for the first-year player.

Jermaine Burton’s incredible 46 yard catch sets up UGA TD

What a catch by Burton.

Jermaine Burton, who has been injured for a good chunk of the season, reminded Georgia fans why they were so excited about him last year.

Georgia blocked a Missouri punt early in the second quarter that went through the end zone for a safety.

Georgia got the ball back, and after a few plays, Burton made his best play of the season on this 46 yard grab. It was initially called a touchdown, but after review the officials determined he was down at the 1.

Then in came defensive tackles Jordan Davis and Jalen Carter to help lead the way for Zamir White, who was able to punch it in for a 1 yard touchdown.

Georgia took a 16-3 lead.

Georgia’s Jalen Carter receives SEC weekly honor

Jalen Carter wins weekly SEC honor

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Georgia Bulldogs defensive lineman Jalen Carter was everywhere during UGA’s 30-13 win over No. 11 ranked Kentucky on Saturday.

His performance was enough to win him SEC Co-Defensive Lineman of the Week.

He finished with six tackles, including a sack and 2.5 tackles for loss. He also blocked an extra point on the last play of the game after Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops called a timeout in an effort to reach the end zone before the game expired.

Only a sophomore, Carter does not receive the same national recognition that Jordan Davis might, but his teammates and coaches will tell you that the Apopka, Florida native is as good as it gets on the line.

Watch: Georgia DL Jalen Carter blocks 3 Razorbacks

Georgia Bulldogs defensive lineman Jalen Carter is proving he can get the job done on both sides of the football.

Georgia Bulldogs defensive lineman Jalen Carter is proving he can get the job done on both sides of the football. Carter lined up at full back on Kendall Milton’s short touchdown run in the second half.

The 6-foot-3, 310-pound fullback was ready to meet several Arkansas Razorbacks in the hole on the play. Carter plowed through one defender and pushed him into a pair of Razorbacks. Carter’s blocking created a massive lane for Kendall Milton to score with ease.

Here’s a great angle of the play:

Carter was a part of Georgia’s best offensive line performance of the season. Offensive line coach Matt Luke helped prepare Georgia’s talented offensive line group to dominate against former Georgia coach Sam Pittman.

The Bulldogs ran for 273 yards on 56 carries. Georgia scored three rushing touchdowns. Here’s another look at Kendall Milton’s touchdown:

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Georgia leaves Lexington with list of injuries headed into matchup with Florida

Georgia had several key injuries during Saturday’s game vs. Kentucky. Details and analysis here.

Georgia defeated Kentucky 14-3 in an ugly game in Lexington.

Star running back Zamir White was one of the bright spots from a mistake-ridden Georgia performance. He totaled 136 yards on 26 carries and a touchdown.

The Bulldogs passing game was nonexistent behind quarterback Stetson Bennett, he completed 9 of 13 passes for 137 yards and two costly interceptions on drives that would have likely yielded points.

Georgia kicker Jack Podlesney had his only field goal attempt botched by a bad snap and to top the mishaps off,  star safety Richard LeCounte dropped a potential pick-six.

All of these aspects can be improved, but what is concerning is the fact that Georgia’s defense suffered some critical injuries ahead of its huge matchup with Florida next week.

Just take a look at the injuries here:

  • DT Jordan Davis (undisclosed)
  • DT Julian Rochester (undisclosed)
  • LB Quay Walker (undisclosed)
  • DB D.J. Daniel (ankle/foot)
  • DB Lewis Cine (ankle/foot)

Plus mike linebacker Monte Rice missed some time but would later return to finish out the game.

Let’s hope these guys can recuperate and be ready for the Gators, but Jordan Davis was in a sling on the Georgia sideline, which definitely does not look good for his chances to be ready next week. Truly a big blow as Davis is one of the most critical pieces of this Bulldogs front.

On a positive note, guys like freshman defensive tackle Jalen Carter and defensive back Tyrique Stevenson showed some great promise when they more got chances to play among all of the injuries.

We know the Bulldogs’ defensive depth is among the best in the nation and it will be tested by Kyle Trask and a Florida offense averaging 40 points per game.